THEY DID THIS TO THEMSELVES

Associated Press is reporting that Leon Pannetta, who was appointed by the leadership of the Bishops' Conference to the National Review Board, is interested in taking things quite a bit further.

"SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) - The Roman Catholic Church should be subject to scrutiny that goes beyond an investigation into child sexual abuse, speakers urged Friday in a conference about the recent church scandals. Leon Panetta, a member of the U.S. Conference of Bishops Committee on Child Sexual Abuse, said church leaders are unaccountable to their followers. Panetta urged follow-up investigations, saying they could uncover problems ranging from embezzlement to sexual harassment of women parishioners.

"This is for all intents and purposes a feudal system, and these are fiefdoms that bishops operate pretty much on their own," said Panetta, former chief of staff to President Clinton. "They don't want to be accountable to anyone but the pope, and what he doesn't know is just as well."

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This review board needs to be disbanded as soon as possible--preferably right now.

Posted by: Pseudodionysius -
May. 15, 2004 9:33 PM ET USA

This is beyond parody. Who was the ecclesial supra intellect that suggested an ex Clintonista join the whitewashing?
Sexual harrassment of women parishioners? I know just the expert that Panetta could parachute in to help out.

Posted by: -
May. 15, 2004 2:13 PM ET USA

The Clinton wing of the Democrat party, including the Clintons themselves, are intent on capturing the Catholic Church for their own use. Unfortunately, there is a vigorous fifth column in our midst that does everything it can to assist.

Posted by: -
May. 15, 2004 11:38 AM ET USA

Leon Panetta is the same Panetta that championed Clinton be subject only to his personnal lust.

Posted by: -
May. 15, 2004 9:27 AM ET USA

Just like the corrupt town fathers in the old Western movies. They first hire renegade bullies notorious enough to cower the citizens who they fear will become unruly. They want to see the dirt swept under the wooden sidewalks and the saloons and bawdyhouses whitewashed. Instead the hirelings turn on them. The thugs know the big payoff is taking over the whole town. Their special target is the old Church in the center that, despite all, still attracts and consoles the people.

Posted by: -
May. 15, 2004 3:34 AM ET USA

The American bishops are deserving of a great deal of criticism, with a number of exceptions, of course. But the criticism is because they are not living up to the ideal set for them by Our Lord, the Apostles, and their episcopal forebears over the last 2000 years. Once they have cleaned up their house, they remain bishops who receive their authority directly from God. They are not elected or subject to oversight by laypeople. Ultimately hell may be the price they pay for a job poorly done.